Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., distributor of best-selling low-cab-forward trucks, announced that Isuzu Motors Limited will resume production at its Fujisawa plant on April 5. The factory had been idled since the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.
The Fujisawa plant manufactures N-Series trucks, diesel engines and components for the North American market, as well as commercial vehicles and parts for markets worldwide. The facility opened in January 1962.
All operations were halted at the factory until March 28, when testing of production equipment began, using vehicles already in the production process. According to Ryozo Tsukioka, executive vice president and director of Isuzu Motors Limited, “We confirmed that the equipment was normal and that we could proceed with trial production as planned.”
Production at Fujisawa will build gradually to normal levels because parts supply and the availability of electricity remain inconsistent. As a result, Isuzu will announce a timetable for a return to full production at a later date.
“We are grateful that Isuzu Motors Limited has taken such care to ensure that production of vehicles will resume safely,” said Shaun C. Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “We know our dealers and our customers understand that it will take some time before normal vehicle distribution schedules resume, and we appreciate their patience as production resumes.”
About Isuzu: Isuzu Motors Limited (Isuzu) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Since building its first truck in 1918, Isuzu has sold over 26 million trucks worldwide. Among its innovations are the first air-cooled diesel engine in 1936, the first two-ton low-cab-forward truck in 1959, and the first direct-injection diesel engine.
Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. (ICTA), is the distributor of Isuzu commercial vehicles in the United States. Isuzu commercial trucks have been the best-selling low-cab-forward trucks in America every year since 1986. For more information, call (866) 441-9638 or visit www.isuzucv.com.